Bathroom remodel, board going up
A licensed plumbing contractor pulled the permit and installed this piping. The crew ran their own test and it held, so the drywall crew started hanging board. What's wrong here?
- PVC drain piping may not be concealed inside a wall that will be drywalled
- The new piping is being covered before the rough-in inspection and test have been approved
- A licensed contractor's own test is enough; the inspector only needs to see the final
- Nothing. This installation is compliant
Show the answer and the code reference
The answer
New drain, vent and water piping is being covered with drywall before it has been inspected, tested, and approved at rough-in.
Correct choice: 2. The new piping is being covered before the rough-in inspection and test have been approved
Under Minn. Rules 1300.0215, no building drainage or plumbing system, or any part of one, may be covered until it has been inspected, tested, and approved. Piping covered before that has to be uncovered when the administrative authority directs. The inspector needs to see the piping itself (material, slope, fittings, venting, support, and protection where it passes through studs) and witness or accept the test before the wall closes. A box-sized opening at the final shows none of that. Testing comes from the plumbing code (UPC 2018 section 712 for drain, waste, and vent piping, which Minnesota amends in part 4714.0712), but passing your own test does not replace the inspection.
How to fix it
Stop hanging board and call for the rough-in inspection. Expect to take down the sheets over the new piping so the inspector can see it and the test can be witnessed or repeated. Re-hang only after the ROUGH-IN line is signed off.
Code references
Minn. Rules 1300.0215 — Plumbing inspections: covering of work
No building drainage or plumbing system or part of one may be covered until it has been inspected, tested, and approved. If any of it is covered before being inspected, tested, and approved, it must be uncovered on the direction of the administrative authority.
Drills citing 1300.0215UPC 2018 712.1 — Testing of drainage and vent systems: media
The piping of the plumbing, drainage, and venting systems must be tested with water or air, except that the model UPC does not allow plastic pipe to be tested with air. Minnesota amends section 712 in Minn. Rules 4714.0712. According to the Plumbing Board's rulemaking statement, the amendment allows air tests on plastic pipe because water tests are unsafe in winter. Check the Minnesota text for test pressures and durations.
Drills citing 712.1Minn. Rules 1300.0120, subp. 1 — Permits: required
An owner or authorized agent must get a permit from the building official before installing, altering, repairing, or replacing a plumbing system regulated by the code.
Drills citing 1300.0120, subp. 1
Minnesota
This drill tests a Minnesota administrative rule. Minnesota does not use UPC chapter 1 (administration) as written. Plumbing inspections are governed by Minn. Rules 1300.0215 and chapter 4714. The Minnesota Plumbing Code (Minn. Rules ch. 4714, the 2018 UPC with Minnesota amendments, effective Dec. 17, 2021) amends the test requirements in section 712.
About the Minnesota Plumbing CodeCitation under review. Minn. Rules 1300.0215 and Minnesota’s change to UPC 712.1 (4714.0712) were not checked against the rule text. Ask your inspector.
Why the other choices are wrong
- PVC drain piping may not be concealed inside a wall that will be drywalled. PVC DWV is an approved drainage and vent material and is routinely concealed in framed walls. The material isn't the problem; covering it before inspection is.
- A licensed contractor's own test is enough; the inspector only needs to see the final. Minn. Rules 1300.0215 says no drainage or plumbing piping may be covered until it has been inspected, tested, and approved. The contractor's own test does not count as that approval.
- Nothing. This installation is compliant. The ROUGH-IN line on the inspection card is blank, and the drain and water lines already run behind new drywall.